by Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY

by Donna Freydkin, USA TODAY

And now that she's pregnant, expect even more attention to be lavished on Duchess Kate as the royal bump watch kicks off in earnest. Watchers expect that she'll build on her existing fondness for simple, classic frocks and modify them as her tummy grows bigger.

"Her style is very elegant and refined, so I see a lot of modified sheath dresses, a lot of beautiful capes and trapeze dresses, a lot of empire waist things. It's an extension of her existing style. It will be so easy for her to wear that," says Amy Tara Koch, author of Bump It Up: Transform Your Pregnancy Into the Ultimate Style Statement.

So no caftans, muumuus or sexy stilettos for the mom-to-be. "She wears a lot of solid-color dresses, and that will work perfectly for her during her pregnancy. She'll continue to wear beautiful rich colors," says Liz Lange, herself the creator of several maternity clothing lines. "Dresses are the easiest way to look elegant while you're pregnant, and Kate wears dresses that can be taken from non-maternity to maternity. Every designer in the world will be happy to create custom looks for her."

And, yes, like most expectant mums, Kate will have to at some point wear stretchy pants and loose tops - but not for a while. A long while.

"She can get away with non-maternity for the first four or five months, if not longer," Lange says. "She's such a small woman. She wears V-necks and those are very flattering.

"She's in a perfect position to just continue with her exact same dressing philosophy. She wears things that are fitted, and that should also continue during her pregnancy. Her clothes are tailored beautifully and will show her expanding baby bump in a tasteful way."

But at some point, even someone with Kate's royal physique has to ditch the skinny jeans. "You have to succumb to changing your wardrobe to accommodate your midsection," says Claire Ekelund, co-founder and designer of the baby accessories line Bebe Au Lait. "She'll still make it look like it's not maternity clothing."

Baby showers aren't traditional in England, but Kate, who has shown an astute understanding of her very public role, might have one for family and very close friends, and share photos as a way to make fans feel part of her experience. "Most first-time moms have baby showers," Koch says. "I can see her keeping it super-elegant and inviting the royals. She's so modern and she's so close to her sister that I can see her having one thrown by her sister."

But for those hard-core fans who are clamoring to shower Kate with baby gifts, save your money. "I don't think as the future queen, you'd be able to send gifts to her," Ekelund says. "There's a ring of security. I don't think you'd be able to get them to her."

Once the little royal makes his or her arrival, Kate might even do that most modern of things: breast-feed in public, like Maggie Gyllenhaal and other celebrities have done.

"Hopefully she'll be nursing in public and setting an example for everybody," Ekelund says. "I think most mothers hope to breast-feed their children, and I'm sure Kate is no different. I would love to think that she would. I'm not sure if she would do that in public, but it would be a huge opportunity to show people that it can be done."